Two Burning Candles

( A unique Birthday Celebration)

 The day was 05 January 2023. I was in a far remote village in West Nepal, living in a rented house, all alone. No one within 500 km knew that  it was my birthday. I too wanted it to be a quiet event.

 The chirping of the morning birds made me get up rather early. Sitting in bed, I thanked God for the new day and for the gift of life. I had a wash as usual. Put on the heater for it was a very cold day. How wonderful the warmth on a cold day!  Boiled a little water.  Had a cup of hot black coffee and few biscuits with it. I had hundreds of cups of coffee in my life but today on this cold day I really enjoyed it. That was my first delight of the day.

Then I went to the chapel. I had got up early to have more time in the chapel. I wanted my birthday celebration today to be in the Chapel. Except for the Lord and me, perhaps no one in the entire country knew it was my Birthday. So I decided to make my time in the chapel very special. My community was some 500 km away.

I looked around to see how to make it special. I got a brilliant idea. Every day I used to burn one candle only for Mass, for good candles were not available in the market. Today I picked up two brand-new candles and burned them on both sides of the Tabernacle. In the gospel of the day I came across the verse, “Before Philip called you I saw you”. I had enough time and matter to go back in memory to all that had happened ever since Fr Philip Thayil had recruited me back in 1966. The Word of God was my banquet. I drank deeply it. I made a speech to thank the Lord for his accompaniment. Together with the warmth of the coffee that I had, I realized the hundreds of things I had taken for granted.  At least today I must mention them in my speech. I was able to get up without aid from my bed. All cannot do that. I can make the sign of the cross. Many hands cannot be lifted. I could walk to wash myself and put on my dress. I had warm socks and a cap to keep me warm. I had silence and the luxury to take my own time for the Mass. I could think, I could read, I could pray.  Lord Thank you for the things I so often take for granted!

I looked up at the two candles. They were burning bright and their flames were dancing in rhythm. I told the Lord, ‘That is for you on my Birthday’. Two flames on both sides the tabernacle dancing in a slow, rhythmic, colorful, bright, and passionate manner. As I was busy with the banquet, I told the Lord to enjoy the dance of the flames. My birthday party needed at least an hour of pure entertainment. So the show went on till the two candles were burnt out.

I liked my birthday party.  Just me and him. Two hours of banquet, dance and delight. During the day, Fr Provincial called me to ask me how is the Birthday celebration going on. I said just fine. He had no idea about the nature of the celebration. I prepared some millet for breakfast and a cup of black tea. The rest of the day I declared a mini fast. No one came around to disturb my peace. It was a day of music, singing, and thanksgiving.

For dinner I wanted a celebration, I had cheese in my fridge. I got some meat  from the market.  I prepared them by myself. Before going to bed I once again spent some time in the Chapel and thanked the Lord for the day. I had a unique Birthday Celebration with one who really matters and two burning candles for a gift for the chief guest.

                                                                            -  Fr T.V.Georgesdb